Gauge may be the simplest, yet strangest, iOS game you'll play this week

Hold me tightly (Game Over)

When the email dropped into my inbox about the release of The Game Atelier's Gauge, I had to download the free version to work out just exactly what it was all about.

Having just spent approximately 30 minutes cursing and slowly getting cramp in my fingers, I'm still not entirely sure what it is. But, I do know that I like it.

Gauging interest

Effectively, the game involves holding your finger on the screen to fill up a horizontal gauge.

Should you fill it up too much and hit the edges of the bar, it's either Game Over or a nasty multiplier penalty.

Sounds ridiculously boring at first - and definitely seems that way when first playing, too - but this simple idea quickly develops into a tense balancing act when you realise the highest-scoring sections are just before the edges of the gauge.

Hello, human

Once you get past a few seconds, the game starts getting really weird - cutting out all images to say "Hello", altering the colour scheme to throw you off, and increasingly raising the centre of the gauge to catch you out.

It also starts to say that it dreamt of you if you do really well. Odd.

I'd recommend you check out the free version for this one, since it's bizarrely addictive [download]. You can purchase the full-fat variety as an IAP for 69p / 99c.

Words of warning, though: it contains a lot of flashing lights, so those prone to epilepsy should probably give it a wide berth.